The American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter, recognized architecture firms with the AIA Impact Awards during their virtual spring conference earlier this month.

The awards recognize architects, designers and others for a project that is specifically designed to benefit social, humanitarian, community or environmental causes.

According to a news release, the awards that were presented on April 3, include:

AIA Iowa Impact Award, Honor: City of Des Moines greenhouse and solar field by MA Architecture. Jury comments included in the release said: “Of all the strong projects we reviewed this rose to the top with its impressive environmental impact supported by clear and powerful metrics provided by the architects. That they were able to build an all-electric, net positive energy and highly productive greenhouse is remarkable. Beyond its enviable building energy performance, the greenhouse also impacts the community through the broad distribution of the flowers produced throughout the city.”

AIA Iowa Impact Award, Merit: Little Priest Tribal College Science Building by PLaN Architecture. Jury comments in the release stated: “This compact and restrained building is impressive in the context of all the problems that had to be addressed including the small site, limited budget, strict grant requirements, and the mandate to support students. The student experience is maximized by the relationship developed between the learning labs and the open landscape beyond. The simple logic and beautiful, poetic material quality on all facades elevates this deceptively simple building.”

2026 CRE Summit planned for Aug. 21 in Omaha

Early registration has begun for the day-long 2026 CRE Summit, planned for Aug. 21 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. The theme of this year’s summit, in its 37th year, is “Build value, create solutions: Ideas don’t drive markets, people do.” Early, discounted registration ends May 31. The summit was founded in 1990 by Jerry Slusky, who was teaching at Creighton University’s law school. The idea for the summit came around the time the federal government created Resolution Trust Corporation to address distressed commercial properties. Last year, more than 1,000 people attended the summit. Slusky has either built or is planning to build nearly 1,000 residential units in the Des Moines area.